Tips to Get Your Kitchen Lighting Right

If there is one thing that you need to get right in the kitchen, it’s the lighting. Of course, kitchen lighting is important to make sure that you can cook efficiently. However, it also plays a critical role in creating the right sort of atmosphere, and then you have the practical matters to take into account as well, for example, energy efficiency and your electricity bills. In this post, we are going to provide you with 10 great tips on how you can get the lighting correct in your kitchen. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know!

Go for Layers

One of the best things to do is to add layers. A lot of homeowners have one single fixture in their kitchen for lighting. However, this is not sufficient. Not only do you need to have a main overhead light, but you should add layers with lots of small lights placed around the kitchen for different tasks. For example, you could add a light above the kitchen sink, over the stove, and near a food prep station. Another benefit of adding layered lighting is that it will help to cut down on glare.

Add Atmosphere

While it is important to make sure that you have the right lighting based on the different tasks that you are going to complete in the kitchen, you also need to think about the atmosphere that you want to create. After all, the kitchen can often be a social hub, especially if you have a table and dining area or a bar stool and bar section. Not only this, but to make the cooking experience as enjoyable as possible, you want your kitchen to be a fun and atmospheric place to be in, and lighting plays a very big role in ensuring that this is the case. A lot of homeowners overlook ambient kitchen lighting ideas. However, it is a great way to add a warm glow to your kitchen and to fill in any gaps that you have in lighting at present. It is also a very cheap way to upgrade your kitchen and give it a stylish vibe.

Think About the Different Tasks in Your Kitchen

The third step that you need to follow when it comes to kitchen lighting is thinking about the different tasks that you are going to carry out in your kitchen. Task lighting, which is placed in the right areas, will supply you with just the right amount of illumination for everything that you are going to do in the kitchen, whether this is prepping vegetables or reading recipes, for example. The best place for your task lighting is between a person’s head and the work surface, so this means that placing lighting underneath your cabinets will be ideal. This does not have to cost a lot and you can easily find strip lights on the market that are suitable for this.

Think in Threes

Another tip for getting the lighting right in your kitchen is to think in threes. Instead of having one main kitchen light, why not try hanging three identical pendant fixtures over the centre of your kitchen? There are lots of great pendant lights to choose from on the market today. You can easily find a wide range of styles, from the contemporary to the classic. You can also use bulbs of different wattage, depending on the amount of lighting that you need in your kitchen.

Be Mindful of Color

Whenever you are selecting fixtures for your kitchen, you need to carefully consider the colour of the room. If you have a lot of white in your kitchen, it can be wise to reduce the wattage of your bulbs. This is recommended because white reflects light. However, you will need more wattage if you have a dark kitchen. Black kitchens have become very popular over the past few years, and if you have followed this trend, you will know that you need to put in extra effort when it comes to lighting, otherwise, your kitchen can look dark and dull rather than looking sleek and stylish. Of course, colour is not the only element that has an impact on wattage. The size of the counter you are going to cover must be considered too. One general rule of thumb is to multiply the countertop area’s square footage by 2.5 and this will tell you how many watts of incandescent light is required.

What Do You Want People to Focus On?

When designing lighting for kitchens, this is a question that you should ask yourself. After all, kitchen lighting will attract attention. Aside from task lighting, which helps with carrying out different tasks in the kitchen, your lighting will be used to catch the eye and make a statement. You should keep this in mind when you are designing your kitchen because it will have a massive impact on the impression you create. After all, do you really want everyone’s eyes to divert to the stack of dirty dishes you have by the side of the sink? It’s unlikely! Instead, why not focus everyone’s attention on some of the more decorative and beautiful elements of your kitchen? If you have a statement piece of art, for example, you may decide to shine a light on this so that it captures everyone’s imagination? The possibilities are endless, just make sure you keep the light away from those parts of the kitchen that you do not particularly want to be on show!

Know Your Measurements

Another important part of the process when it comes to designing the perfect kitchen in terms of light is knowing your measurements. You need to choose the right light based on the size of the space, and the counter, that you are going to be covering. This is especially important if you have a kitchen island. If you look at interior design blogs and Instagram pages, you will typically see that a number of lights are placed above kitchen islands. There tends to be three pendants or something like this. You may even require as many as four or five depending on the size of the kitchen island and indeed your kitchen.

Look Online for Inspiration

Nowadays, we are blessed with so many social media platforms and websites that give us access to amazing design photographs. If you are not the best at interior design, it does not matter because you can simply copy what others are doing. It is, therefore, certainly worth hunting downn some good interior trend and design pages on Instagram and Pinterest, as well as following some of the reputable home decor blogs. By doing this, you will get access to a wealth of articles and photographs regarding kitchen design. You will be able to see how others have gone about making their kitchen look stylish. Plus, a lot of people tag their products on the likes of Instagram, so you can even be taken to the website whereby they purchased the exact light that you are considering. You don’t have to do all of the hard design work – you can copy someone else who knows what they are doing.

Get the Height Right

Aside from the points that have already been mentioned, it is also important to carefully consider height when it comes to kitche lighting, especially your main overhead. Some homeowners make the mistake of hanging their pendant lights too low. There are then those that don’t go for lights that hang, despite having a tall kitchen, and this can create an awkward-looking space. The best thing to do is make sure there is around 30 to 32 inches of space in between your fixture’s lowest hanging point and your kitchen counter or table.

Consider Other Ways to Make Your Kitchen Brighter

Of course, the lights that you select are going to have a huge impact on how bright your kitchen is. However, there is more to it than this! There are other ways to make your kitchen bright as well. This includes painting your kitchen in a light shade. Also, changing or opening your curtains makes a difference. Have you considered having a skylight or new window installed for more natural light?

As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when it comes to lighting your kitchen. Nevertheless, if you follow the ten steps that have been presented in this blog post, you can give yourself the best chance of mastering kitchen lighting so that you have the perfect place for cooking your meals and spending time with your loved ones.